Retreat center near Madison, Wisconsin
“The word retreat never seemed to fit into my life. As someone who isn’t religious, doesn’t do yoga and struggles to disconnect and slow down, the concept of just being somewhere solo never really crossed my mind. It took spending a night at Holy Wisdom Monastery, a Benedictine abbey near Madison, Wis., to realize that I had been missing out.”
–Kate Silver, The Washington Post
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Retreat lodging
We offer overnight lodging in the retreat and guest house or in the two hermitages located in a peaceful wooded area. The simple rooms in the retreat & guest house feature bed, bathroom, desk and wardrobe.
For those seeking a more solitary experience, private hermitages can be reserved for 2 nights or up to 3 months, if available. The hermitages include a kitchenette, living room, bedroom, bathroom and an outdoor deck overlooking a wooded landscape.
View retreat & guest house photos | View hermitage photos | View monastery building photos
Retreat & Guest House bedroom rates for personal retreats
| Room use | Arrival/departure times | 2020 rates |
|---|---|---|
| Day use | Weekdays only 8:00 am-6:00 pm | $52 single/$60 double |
| Overnight | Weekdays & weekends 2:00 pm or after (day of arrival) / Noon or before (day of departure) | $75/ weekend night single $91/weekend night double $62/ weekday night single $72/weekday night double Weekend=Fri, Sat, Sun nights Additional guests in room $5/each |
Hermitage rates
| Number of consecutive nights of stay | Arrival/departure times | 2020 cost/night |
|---|---|---|
| All hermitage stays require a 2 night minimum stay. | Weekdays & weekends 3:00 pm or after (day of arrival) / 11:00 am or before (day of departure) | $103/weekend night single $113/weekend night double $89/weekday night single $99/weekday night double Additional guests in room $5/each |
| 7+ nights | Weekdays & weekends 3:00 pm or after (day of arrival) / 11:00 am or before (day of departure) | 10% discount off above rates after 6 nights |
Meals
Lunch and dinner are available for guests (meals not open to the general public), Tuesday-Saturday, in the monastery building. A light continental, self-serve breakfast is available each morning in the retreat and guest house for overnight guests. Shared meals allow you to engage in conversation with members of the community and guests from around the world. We offer buffet-style meals prepared by our chef from fresh, healthy, locally grown ingredients. The buffet line is open for 30 minutes at lunch and for dinner, please be prompt. Meals must be reserved 24 hours in advance.
Meal rates
| Meal type | Days available | Meal time | Serving location | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental breakfast | Weekdays & weekends | Available until 11:00 am | Retreat & guest room 108 | No charge with overnight room |
| Lunch | Tuesday-Saturday | 12:00-12:30 pm | Monastery community or guest dining room | $14.00/person $8/child age 12 and under |
| Dinner | Tuesday-Saturday | 5:15-5:45 pm | Monastery community or guest dining room | $17.00/person $10/child age 12 and under |
Spiritual guidance
Individuals on personal retreats may want to meet with a spiritual guide while at Holy Wisdom Monastery or virtually. The spiritual guide facilitates your reflection on your life experience in relation to God, yourself, and others. There is a suggested donation of $50 for a one hour spiritual guidance session. Schedule your spiritual guidance session when you schedule your personal retreat. LEARN MORE
Schedule your personal retreat
Reserve your personal retreat by clicking on the Personal Retreat Availability button below.
Guest services staff hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-4:00 pm CST. Reservations submitted over the weekend won’t be viewed until Monday. If you wish to visit within the next 48 hours, please call us at 608-836-1631, x100.
Personal retreat availabilityMonastery reopens Jan. 4
Holy Wisdom Monastery reopens to hermitage guests beginning on Jan. 4, 2021. The Retreat and Guest House reopens on Jan. 18. To request a reservation, please complete the Personal Retreat Availability Inquiry below.
Reserve your personal retreat by clicking on the Personal Retreat Availability button below.
Personal Retreat AvailabilityRead about what to do
on a personal retreatAs featured in The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Minneapolis Star Tribune
For travelers, monastery stays offer peace and quiet, regardless of faithWatch a video blog about the
gift of retreat in a hermitageLearn more about our facilitiesDownload our
personal retreat brochure